State Sen. Jones accepts challenge, takes drug test

LANSING- In a recent letter to the editor in the Lansing State Journal, an Eaton Rapids resident voiced his strong opposition to the practice of drug testing welfare recipients. In the same letter, the writer also suggested that legislators be drug tested before they receive their paychecks.

State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, answered that challenge on Thursday and took a 5-panel drug test, which came back negative for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, PCP and opiates. Jones paid for the test out of his own pocket.

"I firmly believe that anyone who receives cash assistance and has children should be drug tested," Jones said. "I personally know of instances where children went hungry because their parents used cash assistance funds to buy drugs."